Lotte Plaza Market announced Sept. 9 its grand-opening celebration in Jacksonville starts with a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 12 followed by the store opening at 10 a.m.
The day includes giveaways and other events as the Maryland-based international supermarket company opens its third Florida store and its 17th nationwide.
Lotte Plaza Market renovated the closed Best Buy at 9355 Atlantic Blvd.
The company said in a news release the 45,985-square-foot store offers Asian groceries, fresh produce, specialty-cut meats that include more than 50 marinated varieties, poultry, seafood, pantry staples, housewares, deli, cosmetics and international specialty items.
The market will offer foods from China, India, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam and other nations.
Lotte Plaza Market Jacksonville will feature a signature Snack Lab, described as a dedicated corner where customers can discover snack food combinations from around the world. It will also feature the Tous les Jours French-Asian bakery.
“This location reflects our vision of combining exceptional grocery quality with unbeatable value and an inviting in-store experience,” said Alvin Lee, president of Lotte Plaza Market, in the release.
The market chain’s Florida stores are in Orlando and Tampa. Its other locations are in Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia.
Lotte Plaza Market said it is committed to supporting Jacksonville’s local economy by filling jobs, partnering with regional suppliers and small businesses, and helping to revitalize the Regency area with investment.
Lee said in the release that North Florida is becoming more diverse.
“We welcome everyone — whether you’re eager to reconnect with the flavors of home or to explore new cuisines and cultures — to experience the authentic global foods and products that Lotte Plaza Market has to offer.”
Lotte Plaza Market was founded in 1989 with its first store in Rockville, Maryland.
The posted hours for the Jacksonville store are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 365 days a year.
Best Buy built the consumer electronics store in 1999 and closed it in March 2021.
SW Jacksonville LLC, led by Maryland-based Sungwon Distributor LLC agent Sang Lee, bought the 3.4-acre site in January 2022.
Sungwon Distributor LLC is based in Jessup, Maryland. Sung Lee is the CEO.
Sang Lee registered with the state to do business in Florida.
The city issued a permit Nov. 15, 2024, for Lotte Plaza Market to renovate the store at a cost of $8.99 million.
Hawkins Construction Inc. of Tarpon Springs was the contractor.